Investing in Health for Economic Development

Abstract

The small book argues that extended health services to the poor in low income countries can save millions of lives, reduce poverty, spur economic growth and promote global security. How to implement such an optimistic plan in societies with weak infrastructure and bad governance is the critical issue that the authors do not pay enough attention to. The book oversells potential spillover-effects from health to macro economic performance. As there is no mono-causal explanation for underdevelopment, there cannot be a one-factor cure. Yet, inefficiencies and leakages in implementing health improvements do not per se constitute moral reasons to oppose them.

Keywords:

• Health
• development
• poverty